Jermain Defoe claims Tottenham would be top of the Premier League if not for one thing

Tottenham Hotspur legend Jermain Defoe has insisted that his old club would be topping the Premier League table if it weren't for their injury woes this season.

The 41-year-old, who netted 143 goals in all competitions during his two spells at the North London club, is a beloved figure amongst the Spurs faithful. Since hanging up his boots in 2022, the former England international has transitioned into coaching and currently manages Spurs' U18s team, following a brief stint as a club ambassador and academy coach.

Defoe has kept himself busy post-retirement, recently launching the Jermain Defoe Academy at East Durham College, a location inspired by his time at Sunderland where he developed a strong bond with the club's fans and the North East region. At the academy's launch earlier this month, Defoe shared with the Daily Star his thoughts on how the club have been faring this season under new manager Ange Postecoglou.

«Without being biased, I think Tottenham are probably one of the most exciting teams to watch and I'm not only saying it because I played for the club for nine years,» he said. «Tottenham for me, the structure in possession and the full-backs playing so high and have this courage and the ability to do that and create so many chances, it's amazing to see and [to] watch that.»

Injuries to star players like James Maddison and Micky van de Ven among others are thwarting Tottenham from leading the Premier League, claims Defoe. «The Premier League's the toughest league in the world and it's such a long season, you're going to get ups and downs,» he stated.

«But I still think for me Tottenham are one of the most exciting [teams] to watch and if we didn't have those injuries at key moments to Van den Ven and Maddison,